Nature & Science
It was like a scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s film The Birds. Trudy Taylor called and Bob Shriber e-mailed me to describe the scene that occurred on Saturday, Sept. 5. Hundreds of laughing gulls were flying overhead along the Lobsterville Beach. They were acting like swallows, swooping down and up, combing the air for insects. It turns out that the gulls were catching flying ants that had hatched from the beach and dunes.
September is for the birds.
Now, Soo Whiting, don’t get your feathers ruffled, I won’t tread on your turf (see column to the right). These birds of September are in the sky but won’t fly away or be found in a Sibley Guide. My birds live in the autumn night sky, immortalized forever by the stars.
By LYNNE IRONS
Temperature: Precip.
Day Max. Min. Inches.
Fº Fº
August 28 75 58 Trace
August 29 76 59 1.32
August 30 72 59 3.67
August 31 75 60 .06
Sept. 1 71 61 Trace
Sept. 2 73 52 .00
Sept. 3 73 49 .00
Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 73º F.
Sunrise Sunset
Fri., Sept. 4 6:10 7:10
Sat., Sept. 5 6:11 7:08
Sun., Sept. 6 6:12 7:07
Mon., Sept. 7 6:13 7:05
Tues., Sept. 8 6:14 7:03
Wed., Sept. 9 6:15 7:02
Thurs., Sept. 10 6:16 7:00
Friday, August 28: Increasing clouds. Partly sunny skies turn overcast late in the afternoon. Rain late.
Almanac
A comprehensive guide to weather and tides on the Island.
Vineyard Gardener
I guess this past week weather-wise is called a January thaw. We did not really experience it the last several years as December was unseasonably warm.
Farm & Field
Beige and brown and tan and black, with horns spiraled or semicircular or in undulating waves, a legion of goats marched up the hill toward us, bleating in anticipation of fresh grass and leaves.